The 2026-27 college basketball season hasn’t even tipped off, but Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope has already suffered one of his biggest losses.
Forward Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 player in the 2026 class, announced Tuesday on “Inside the NBA” that he will play for the Kansas Jayhawks this upcoming season. He unwrapped an “NBA 2K” cover of him wearing a Kansas jersey to confirm the decision.
Kentucky was once considered the favorite to land Stokes, but Kansas made a late push. That effort ultimately flipped him to the Big 12 power and leaves Pope without a prized recruit heading into next season.
Why Mark Pope should be crushed after losing out on Tyran Stokes
Pope, who’s entering his third season with the SEC school, isn’t on the hot seat but could be on shaky ground. In his first two seasons with the Wildcats, he compiled a 46-26 record and made two NCAA Tournament trips but failed to lead the program past the Sweet 16. This past season, the Iowa State Cyclones eliminated the Wildcats in an 82-63 win in the second round of the Big Dance.
